Expression help

[mooseknuckle]

Hi, I'm teaching myself piano, and am trying to play some mozart.

I'm curious about tempi and expression on these Minuets from the Nannerl Notebook (1-3 to start with).  Here are my attempts:

https://zug.phpwebhosting.com/mozart/01_-_1._Minuet_in_C_Major.mp3
https://zug.phpwebhosting.com/mozart/02_-_2._Minuet_in_F_Major.mp3
https://zug.phpwebhosting.com/mozart/03_-_3._Minuet_in_C_Major.mp3

There are no tempi marked on the music, and very little in the way of notation for expression and volume (these were written for a cembalo I think). 

Am I doing this right?  The 3rd minuet especially boggles me, as I cannot figure out where to put the phrases ...   Any ideas would be nice thanks.

[healdie]

well if there is no tempo or expression marked go mad, put your own in

also Mozart was about 5 years old when he wrote these so I don't think he had much in mind for expression and tempo

these were also written for harpischord so expressive playing is not suited to this instrument so they wouldn't have bothered with expression

also in the period just passed (Baroque) tempo was often emitted from the scores so that the performer would add there own

 

[j.s. bach the 534th]

right, there was no tempo on purpose. Just try different tempo and see what you like.

[mooseknuckle]

Thanks for the tips ... I've rerecorded the 3 Minuets with a couple of small changes:

1) Changed the instrument
2) Stopped trying to force any kind of dynamics or expression due to the period

Is this more or less how these were meant to be played?  Any thoughts, especially constructive would be most appreciated!

https://zug.phpwebhosting.com/mozart/Nannerl/harpsichord/01_-_1._Minuet_in_C_Major.mp3
https://zug.phpwebhosting.com/mozart/Nannerl/harpsichord/02_-_2._Minuet_in_F_Major.mp3
https://zug.phpwebhosting.com/mozart/Nannerl/harpsichord/03_-_3._Minuet_in_C_Major.mp3

Also, Are you sure these were composed by Mozart?   I thought that these may have been by CPE Bach, or possibly Leopold.   Anyone have the real scoop on these tunes?

[healdie]

yes many other pieces in teh book were composed by other people but as far as i know the Minuets are by W.A Mozart

[healdie]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannerl%27s_Music_Book

here this should answer all